Mine exploder



C. C. WHITE MINE EXPLODER Nov. 29, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Deo. 13,1944 Nov. 29, 1949 c. c. WHITE MINE EXPLODER Filed DeC. 15, 1944 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Claude E Whie mcaymfffm www C. C. WHITE MINE EXPLODERNov. 29, 1949 3 Sheets-Shea?l 5 lFiled Dec. 13, 1944 Siwa/WKO@ Elu-mdaWl-Lie Patented Nov. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE MINE EXPLODERClaude C. White, Aberdeen, Md. Application December 13, 1944, Serial No.568,026 2 Claims. *(Cl. 556) (Granted under the act amended April 30,

'The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me ofany royalty thereon.

The present invention pertains to a novel apparatus for exploding minesthat have been planted in the earth. One of the expedients previouslysuggested is a series of discs mounted in front of a vehicle and pushedthereby. It was found however that such discs are not satisfactoryprincipally because they cannot readily be pushed out of craters andalso because they diminish the tractive eiciency of the vehicle.

The object of this invention is to overcome these objections and isaccomplished essentially by providing a power drive for the discs. Inthe case of a combat tank, for example, the drive is taken from thedrive sprocket.

Another object of the invention is to construct the discs so that theyabsorb comparatively little energy from an explosion and are lifted arelatively short distance off the ground by the acquired energy. Thesefunctions result from a proportioning of the discs by calculations basedon experiment and observation. The principles involved in proportioningthe discs are set forth hereinafter.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed in thefollowing description and in theY accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my novel mine exploder;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view in crosssection of my novel mineexploder;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view with parts broken away of my novelmine exploder;

Figure 4 is a view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 5 5 of Figure 2along axis of the disc of my novel mine exploder; v

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the connecting member of my novel mineexploder, and

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a modied form of my invention.

In Figure 1 is shown a heavy vehicle I such as a combat tank having adrive sprocket 2 at each side at the forward end. The sprockets drivetracks 3 running under bogies 4 in the usual manner. To the face of eachsprocket 2 is bolted a power take-off sprocket 5 for driving themineexploding discs as will presently be shown.

To the forward end of the tank is fastened a suitably shaped supportingbracket 6, at each side of the center line of the tank. Each support hasfastened thereto a split bearing 'I receiving a of March 3, 1883, as

2 bushing 8 and a shaft 9. The end of each shaft adjacent to a sprocket5 carries a larger sprocket I 0 geared to the corresponding sprocket 5by a chain II. The inner end of each shaft 9 carries a double sprocketI2 for a purpose that will presently be described.

On each sleeve 8 is mounted a fork I 3 extending some distance forwardof the tank. Each forward end of each fork is formed as a bearing pillowI4 fitted with a cap I5 secured by bolts I 5. In the bearings thusformed are mounted sleeve I1, I'I containing a shaft I8 secured by keysI9. The cap is hollow and contains a rubber shock absorber 20. The innerend of each shaft carries a double sprocket 2| geared to the alineddouble sprocket I2 by chains 22.

On each shaft relatively thin hole 24 which I 8 are mounted severallarge and discs 23, each having a central is considerably oversizedaround the shaft I8 as clearly shown in Figure 5. Between adjacent discsare mounted coupling members, each consisting of a plate 25 engaging oneof the discs and to which is welded a smaller plate 26 engaging theother disc. Each disc 25 is formed with a pair of diametrically alinedslots 2'I in the face adjacent to a disc 23. That disc carries on eachface a pair of diametrically alined keys 28 received in the adjacentsillots 21. This arrangement occurs at alternate scs.

Each of the smaller plates 26 has a pair of diametrically alined slots29 formed in the face adjacent to one of the remaining discs andperpendicular to the slots 21. The last named or remaining discs carrydiametrically alined keys 30 received in the slots 29.

At the ends of the assembly are end plates 3I fastened respectively tothe sleeves I1, I l and carrying diametrically alined keys 32 parallelto the keys 28. The outer face of each end disc of the discs 23 carriesa plate 33 having diametrically alined slots 34 receiving the keys 32.

Each disc 23 is thus permitted to shift independently relatively to theshaft I8 in response to irregularities of ground surface. The couplingsconstituted by the keys and the members between adjacent discsconstitute the drive from disc to disc, which is initiated at the keys32 and plates 3|, the latter being secured to the shaft I8. The disccouplings, displaceable in two directions, are in the nature ofuniversal joints and are commonly known as mechanics joints.

Each pair of sprocket chains 22 is preferably enclosed in a guard 35having a detachable cover 36 held by suitable clips 31.

The characteristics will be given for an apparatus designed to eXplodemines containing about 12 pounds of TNT without material damage to theapparatus. Each fork carries five discs about 8 feet in diameter and31/2 inches thick. Such a disc, consisting of armor plate is cored outat several holes 38 to reduce the weight of each-disc to about 4600pounds. The projected ground area of each disc is 2 inches times 8 feetor 11/3 square feet. The weight of each disc is 1971 pounds per squarefoot of exposed area.

The high ratio of disc diameter to disc thickness, on the order of 30 to1 is significant. The energy delivered by an explosion to an adjacentmass is proportional to the exposed, effective area of the mass. Thisenergy is converted in the Vmass into two forms, namely, kinetic orlifting energy and stress within the mass. The lifting energy isobviously inversely proportional to the mass, and the stresses aretherefore directly proportional to the mass, The mass receives acomparatively small amount of energy from the explosion, by reason ofits relatively smallv thickness and small exposed area, and only a smallportion of this energy is absorbed in lifting the mass, which isrelatively heavy. The resulting small ascent of the discs from theground signifies correspondingly small destructive forces due to fallingimpact.

Another important characteristic of the invention is the direct drive onthe discs. It has been found that discs that are merely pushed by thevehicle travel with diiiiculty over rough ground and frequently cannotbe pushed out of craters. Under favorable conditions the power requiredto overcomev the krollingv resistance' of the discs is derived from thetank""tracks and the track slippage is about 5,0%, with a correspondingreduction of mobility. On muddy difcult terrain the propulsiveefliciency of the track is frequently reduced tov zero.

The direct driveon the discs overcomes all of these difficulties. Thediscs roll readily out of craters and pits and also over normalobstructions.' The speed of the vehicle is reduced to about 50% belownormal, which is satisfactory for mine-exploding operations. The trackeiiciency, however, is not reduced since the disc drive is direct fromthe driving sprockets 2 and no driving effort is taken from the tracks.

The space Abetween the two sets of discs is oov ered by a third set ofdiscs centrally mounted on the rear end of the vehicle or by a similartrailing vehicle taking a laterally offset path. The latter arrangementalso widens the path made by the leading vehicle.

In the modification shown in Figure 7, the tank 40 carries a pair ofsubstantially horizontal pivotally mounted hydraulic jacks 4I. To theouter end of the ram 42 of each jack is pivotally attached a fork 43 inwhich is mounted a set of discs 44. The forkcarries a driven sprocket 45geared to the drive sprocket 46 at the adjacent side of the tank by achain 41. 45 is similarly geared at 48 to the disc shaft 49 in thecorresponding fork 43.

To the rear end of the tank is pivotally mounted.`

a single, central fork 50 carrying a single set of discs l. These neednot be positively driven since they are effectively pulled overobstructing surfaces by the tractive effort of the two sets of forwarddriven discs 44. Upon the rear deck of the tank is pivotally mounted ahorizontal jack 52 having its moving end pivotally attached at 53 to thefork 50.

The jacks are adapted to lift the vehicle and Each sprocket.

Cil

hold it off the ground as shown in Figure 7, and in this position theapparatus is propelled only by the discs 44. It can travel in thiscondition over ground that is relatively hard and smooth. When morediflicult terrain is encountered, the jacks are operated to lower thetank and bring its tracks 54 upon the ground.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and beendescribed, it will be understood that various alterations may be madewithout departure from the spirit of the invention as indicated by theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a vehicle having a power plant for propulsion andhaving a power take-off, a mine exploder comprising a frame pivotallyattached to said Vehicle, a shaft rotatively journalled in said frame, aseries of spaced mine exploding discs loosely mounted centrally thereofon said shaft, coupling means between each of said discs andycouplingall of the latter together rotatively, said coupling means includingslots with keys slidably received therein, whereby each of said discs issubject to independent limited relative displacement radially of saidshaft, couplings connecting the opposite ends of said series to saidshaft, and a drive connection between said power take-off and said shaftfor drive rotation of the latter, whereby said discs are rotativelydriven by said power plant independently of ground contact.

2. In combination with a vehicle having a power plant for propulsion andhaving a power take-off, a mine exploder comprising a frame pivotallyattached to the forward end-of said vehicle, a shaft rotativelyjournalled in said frame, a series of spaced mine exploding discsloosely mounted centrally thereof onsaid shaft, each of said discscarrying on each of the opposite faces thereof a pair of spaceddiametrically aligned keys, coupling plate members each loosely mountedon said shaft between respective adjacent keys of two of said discs andconnecting all of said discs together rotatively, each of said couplingplate members having on each of the opposite faces thereof a pair ofspaced diametrically aligned slots slidably receiving the respectivesaid keys on the adjacent face of one of said discs, whereby each ofsaid discs is subject Number to independent limited relativedisplacement radially of said shaft, coupling means connecting oppositeends of said series to said shaft, and drive means rotatively connectingsaid shaft to said power take-off, whereby said discs are rotativelydriven by said Vpower plant independently of ground contact.-

j CLAUDE C, WHITE.

REFERENCES Ci'rED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Nam-e Date 980,484 Bradley Jan. 3, 1911 1,258,882Dreml Mar. 12, 1918 1,798,393 Anderson et al Mar. 31, 1931 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 1,822 Australia of 1926 165,732 SwitzerlandFeb. 1, 1934 310,294 Italy Aug. 8, 1933 584,108 France Nov. 13, 1924

